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The Seventeenth Century

The first important event recorded in the history of 17th century Bombay
dates from 1640, during the Portuguese occupation of the islands. The
first Parsi, a trader called Dorabji Nanabhai, is known to have settled
in Bombay in this year.

In 1661, the islands of Bombay passed to the British Crown, when Charles
II married Catherine of Braganza. However, the Portuguese garrison in
Bassein refused to part with the islands of Salsette,
Parel, Worli and
Mazagaon. British soldiers
captured these islands only in 1665, and a treaty was signed in the manor
house on the island of Bombay.

The
British East India Company received it from the crown in 1668
for the sum of 10 pounds a year, payable every September 30. Sir George
Oxenden, then President of the factory in Surat, became the first
Governor of Bombay. The Company immediately set about the task of
opening up the islands by constructing a quay and warehouses. A customs
house was also built. Fortifications were made around the manor house,
now renamed Bombay Castle. A Judge-Advocate was appointed for the
purpose of civil administration. Sir George died in 1669.

Gerald Aungier was appointed
the President of the Surat factory and Governor of Bombay in 1672, and
remained at this post till 1675. He offered various inducement to skilled
workers and traders to set up business in the new township. As a result, a
large number of Parsis, Armenian, Bohras,
Jews, Gujarati banias from Surat and Diu and Brahmins from Salsette came to
Bombay.
The population of Bombay
was estimated to have risen from 10,000 in 1661 to 60,000 in 1675.

Gerald Aungier established the
first mint in Bombay. In 1670 the Parsi businessman Bhimjee Parikh imported
the first printing press into Bombay. Aungier
planned extensive fortifications from Dongri in the north to Mendham's Point
(near present day Lion Gate) in the south. However, these walls were only
built in the beginning of the 18th century. The harbour was also developed,
with space for the berthing of 20 ships. In 1686, the Company shifted its main
holdings from Surat to Bombay.

During the Portuguese occupation, Bombay exported only coir and coconuts.
With the coming of many Indian and British merchants, Bombay's trade
developed. Soon it was trading in salt, rice, ivory, cloth, lead and
sword blades with many Indian ports as well as with Mecca and Basra.